NASCAR's most popular driver straps in for his final ride this weekend. Past and present sponsors take a drive down memory lane.
After 19 years of NASCAR racing, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. is retiring, and his final race will be this weekend's season finale at the Miami-Homestead Speedway. Although Dale Jr. never won a Cup championship, he won the hearts of NASCAR fans almost instantly.
The two-time Daytona 500 winner racked up a total of 26 wins in the Cup Series and 24 wins in the lower Xfinity Series (including two championships). He has also twice raced in the 24 Hours of Daytona. Perhaps his legacy will be the fact that he swept NASCAR's Most Popular Driver Award from 2003 through 2016.
Check out the trio of videos below from his sponsors that highlight and pay tribute to Dale Jr. as he embarks in his next venture as a race commentator and father.
Budweiser
https://youtu.be/tl_1Fgs2fy8
Chevrolet
https://youtu.be/zIxLeQIIhb4
Axalta Racing
As for the last car Dale Jr. will run in NASCAR, it features a throw-back paint scheme meant to mimic the black-and-red Budweiser No. 8 car in which he started his career. His sponsor for the race, Axalta Coating Systems, released the following video showing how this special car was painted... not wrapped.
Pretty cool stuff. Thanks a lot for the memories, Dale Jr.
NEXT: A COMPLETELY UNSCIENTIFIC LIST OF THE 5 BEST NASCAR DRIVERS OF ALL TIME
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